The Round-Up
Sunday 1st December
Beds & Herts Women’s Division One
With leaders Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies not in action this weekend in Beds & Herts Women’s Division One it was a chance for the chasing sides to close the gap. Hemel Hempstead with a healthy lead having a 100% record so far this season. St Albans Ladies trailing Hemel Hempstead by 9 points having 2 games in hand. Playing one this Sunday were at home to bottom side Hitchin Belles. The visitors finding life in Division One tough after winning the Division Two title last season. Without a point on the board so far from 6 this season. St Albans in good form scoring goals too Cally Salter getting the hosts off the the perfect start putting them 1 up within a minute. Top scorer Eleanor Lovelock and a goal from Ellen Salter seeing St Albans 3-0 up inside 10 minutes. Hitchin awarded a penalty Amy Jack pulling it back to 3-1 from the spot. St Albans strong in the first half, Sophie Hull putting the hosts 4-1 up on 20 minutes, Lovelock going on to complete a first half hat-trick with Cally Salter also scoring a 2nd. A quieter 2nd half a spirited performance from Hitchin despite the scoreline St Albans getting an 8th goal in the 73rd minute Lovelock scoring her 4th of the game and 19th of the season. Two quickfire goals coming late on for Jessica Cavaree her first of the season for St Albans. Winning 10-1 St Albans move into 2nd spot in the Division One table 6 behind Hemel Hempstead.
Hitchin Town Ladies previously 2nd fall 2 places to 4th in the Division One table as they were defeated at home to Northwood Ladies on Sunday. The visitors with a 3rd straight win in the league moving up the table after collecting just 2 points from their opening 3 matches games in hand on all above with be pushing for a top three finish. Emma Steele scoring a brace for Northwood takes her onto 6 for the season a brace too for Clara Morillon her first goals for the club along with one for Honor Cantrell in a deserved 5-2 victory. Holly Darling and Emma Chaffey from the penalty spot for Hitchin Town.
Hartham United Ladies also climbing the Beds & Herts Women’s Division One table this weekend up to 3rd in the table now after winning their 4th match of the season away to Royston Town Ladies Development at the weekend. Janiece Allen top scoring for Hartham Unite this season and she was on target for the opening goal this Sunday to put them 1 up. Royston hitting Hartham on the break coming back to level it up at 1-1, Eve Chappell scoring. Katherine Calvert on hand to restore Hartham’s lead latching onto a clearance put into her from outside the box to send in under the bar. A 3rd goal quickly following Allen with her 2nd of the game. Clinical finishing from the attacker as she went to to complete her hat-trick and secure a 4-1 win for Hartham with her 14th goal of the season.
Tight in the middle of the Division One table Garston Ladies 1st well amongst the mix too. Were away to Houghton Athletic Ladies on Sunday. A solid start to their 2nd season in the top tier. A first goal of the season for Maddie Gorton, one from captain Leah Crockett and a 5th of the season for Holly Jury helping Garston to a 3-1 victory to put them on 11 points to keep them in touch with the sides above. Holly Thomson scoring for Houghton Athletic.
Garston Ladies 1st (photo credit Garston Ladies 1st)
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two
All very tight in the top half of Beds & Herts Women’s Division Two too with just 8 points between the top 6 sides now. League leaders AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Ladies losing their 100% winning start at home to Woburn & Wavendon Lionesses on Sunday. A close scoreline Woburn & Wavendon edging the result 3 goals to 2 to win their 4th successive match following an opening day loss still back in 5th with 2 games in hand on AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College who have 18 at the top. A brace from Georgia-Rose Edwards along with a goal from Laura Taylor securing the win.
Garston Ladies Vintage Purples back in action after two weeks were at home playing Watton Ladies in Division Two this Sunday. 4th in the league Garston hitting the crossbar early on were dominating play, Samantha Roads with the opening goal, the ball falling to her 25 yards out struck well to find the top corner. More opportunities presented the lead just 1-0 at the break. Watton coming out of the blocks at the start of the 2nd half Garston keeper Vicki Duffy with a couple of saves. Jane Hales scoring on the volley to give Garston a 2-0 lead 10 minutes into the 2nd half. A dispute over whether a 3rd goal was scored direct from a corner in the end ruled out. Yasmin Sabri putting in a 20 yard shot to give Garston a crucial 3-0 lead Emma Trill adding a 4th straight form another corner kick late on.
An eventful match the last time these two sides met the the cup it was no different in the league this weekend between Sherrardswood Ladies & Evergreen Ladies. 7-4 then after extra-time. This weekend the points were shared after Evergreen came back from behind 3 times to level the match at 3-3 come the full time whistle. Sherrardswood with an early lead Manjinder Atwal with her 5th of the season after just 3 minutes. Evergreen coming back to level with Grace Gibbons scoring her first goal for the club. Abby Cardell with her first of the season putting Sherrardswood back into the lead late in the first half. Time for Evergreen to respond captain Rebecca Freeman scoring her 5th goal of the season from a free-kick just outside the box. 2-2 at half-time a quieter 2nd half by comparison, Sherrardswood retaking the lead inside the final 10 minutes with Victoria Little on target for her first goal. Evergreen coming back to level for a third time in the dying moments of the match Gemma Arnett heading in from a corner kick to see the points shared.
Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three
Two matches played in Beds & Herts Women’s Division Three this weekend. Also an away win awarded to Harvesters Ladies seeing them go 3 points clear at the top of the table over Herts Vipers who weren’t in action. Joining Herts Vipers on 18 points are Biggleswade United Ladies winning their 6th league game of the season at home to Kempston Rovers Ladies on Sunday continuing to apply pressure to the top two. Leeanne Davison ahead in the goal scoring charts for Biggleswade on target for her 17th goal of the season. Kayleigh Saunders moving onto 12 also on the scoresheet. Also amongst the goals this season are Zoe Molloy and Angelica Fachechi both scoring a goal each with Biggleswade winning 4-0 their winning run extended to 6 in all competitions.
Stotfold Juniors Ladies were at home playing Bedwell Rangers Ladies this weekend in Division Three. Jessica Sullivan netting a brace for Bedwell Rangers taking her tally to 7 for the season. Stotfold Juniors taking the 3 points however scoring 3 to win the match 3-2. A first half brace for Georgia Dollman putting her on 5 for the season with Chloe Ward netting her 8th of the season with 15 minutes left to play. The 3 points taking Stotfold Juniors above Bedwell Rangers into 6th place.